Wall hung safety bracket

ABSTRACT

A bracketed scaffold system configured for attachment to a wall prior to the wall construction which uses a hook adapter to hang the scaffold bracket over the top of the wall and a securing plate that is secured to the stud inside the wall to secure the scaffold to the wall. The hook adapter is attachably connected to the upper end of a vertical wall bar and the securing plate is longitudinally parallel with and attachably connected to the lower end of the vertical wall bar. A horizontal rail is perpendicular to the vertical wall. A connecting brace is attachably connected to the lower end of the vertical wall bar and the distal end of the horizontal rail, thereby forming a triangular configuration. The vertical wall bar is braced against the surface of the wall using a horizontal brace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of scaffolding used inbuilding construction. More specifically, the present invention relatesto a bracketed scaffolding system used to secure a scaffold to a wallbefore the wall is erected.

2. Description of Related Art

Scaffolding has traditionally been used in building constructionprojects to provide raised platforms or ramps that are used forpedestrian movement as well as the passage of building materials or tosupport structures such as the roof during construction. Scaffolding hastraditionally consisted of tube and coupler designs wherein theuprights, or posts, rise from the ground or some other source of solidsupport. However, there are building scenarios where the scaffold may bedifficult to level and stabilize due to lack of solid support. As aresult, scaffold designs have been modified to hang from a portion ofthe structure rather than rely on ground support.

There are many structure-supported scaffold designs in the prior art.Most attach temporarily to the roof while others are attached to a wallusing permanent anchors to secure to the completed wall structure.However, there still exists a need for a wall supported scaffold designthat can be secured to the wall before the wall is erected and can bedetached from the wall after use, such that permanent anchors are notrequired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to address several challengesin previous attempts to design a wall supported scaffolding system. Thebracketed scaffold system of the present invention is configured forattachment to the wall prior to the wall construction. The scaffoldbracket generally uses a hook adapter to hang the scaffold bracket overthe top of the wall and a securing plate that is secured to the studinside the wall to secure the scaffold to the wall. The hook adapter isattachably connected to the upper end of a vertical wall bar and thesecuring plate is longitudinally parallel with and attachably connectedto the lower end of the vertical wall bar. A horizontal rail isperpendicular to the vertical wall. A connecting brace is attachablyconnected to the lower end of the vertical wall bar and the distal endof the horizontal rail, thereby forming a triangular configuration. Thevertical wall bar is braced against the surface of the wall using ahorizontal brace.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparentto those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the followingdescription of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction withthe accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention whereinsimilar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scaffold bracket of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scaffold bracket system of thepresent invention showing its operation and use.

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe scaffold bracket system of the present invention with means toadjust the horizontal rail placement along the vertical wall bar.

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe scaffold bracket system of the present invention with means toadjust the horizontal rail placement along the vertical wall bar thatincludes a view of the hook adapter.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the placement of the hook adapter and securingplate of the scaffold bracket of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to FIG. 1, the scaffold bracket of the present invention isshown generally. The vertical wall bar 1 may have a substantially flatsurface and has an upper end and a lower end. The vertical wall bar isattachably connected at its upper end to a hook adapter 7. The hookadapter 7 hangs over the top of a wall or wall support structure 10(shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4-5). A securing plate 8 islongitudinally parallel to and attachably connected to the lower end ofthe vertical wall bar 1. As shown in further detail in FIG. 5, thesecuring plate 8 passes through a slot in the plywood of the wallsupport structure and is secured to a stud 14. The securing plate 8 canbe accessed from the inside of the wall when it is to be removed. Thehook adapter 7 can be securely fastened to the top of the wall 10 usingnails, screws, nuts, bolts and/or a combination thereof. The securingplate 8 can be securely fasted to the stud inside the wall using nails,screws, nuts, bolts and/or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment of the bracket scaffold of the present invention asshown in FIG. 1, a horizontal rail 4 has a proximal end and a distal endand is perpendicular to the vertical wall bar 1, with the horizontalrail 4 proximal end being attachably connected to the vertical wall bar1. In an alternative embodiment of the bracket scaffold of the presentinvention as shown in FIGS. 2-4, a plate 13 is longitudinally parallelto the vertical wall bar 1 and perpendicular to the horizontal rail 4.The plate 13 is attachably connected to the vertical wall bar 1 with theproximal end of the horizontal rail 4 adjustably attachable to the plate13. As shown in FIG. 2-4, the horizontal rail 4 can be adjusted alongthe plate 13 using attachment holes drilled within the plate 13 or othersuitable adjustable attachment device on plate 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a connecting brace 5 is attachably connected atits proximal end to the lower end of the vertical wall bar 1 andattachably connected at its distal end to the distal end of thehorizontal rail 4. The vertical wall bar 1, horizontal rail 4 andconnecting brace 5 form a triangular configuration. A horizontal brace 9is perpendicular to and attachably connected to the vertical wall bar 1.The horizontal brace 9 rests against the outer surface of the wall inorder to stabilize the placement of the scaffold bracket. The horizontalrail 4 and the horizontal brace 9 are detachably secured to the verticalwall bar 1 through the use of bolts or other suitable fasteners.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a vertical railing post 3 is adjustably attachedat its lower end to the horizontal rail 4. One or more adjustablerailing brackets 6 are selectably connected to the vertical railing post3 through the use of bolts or other suitable fasteners.

The vertical wall bar 1, hook adapter 7, securing plate 8, horizontalrail 4 and connecting brace 5 can be substantially made of metallic,polymeric, wood and/or composite materials as well as combinationsthereof.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a bracketed scaffoldsystem is shown in FIGS. 2-4. A plurality of scaffold brackets as shownin FIG. 1 and described above are used to form a bracketed scaffoldsystem. A plurality of vertical wall bars 1 may have a substantiallyflat surface and have an upper end and a lower end. The plurality ofvertical wall bars are attachably connected at their upper end to aplurality of hook adapters 7. The hook adapters 7 hang over the top of awall or wall support structure 10 (shown in greater detail in FIGS.4-5). A plurality of securing plates 8 are longitudinally parallel toand attachably connected to the lower end of the vertical wall bars 1.As shown in further detail in FIG. 5, the securing plates 8 pass througha slot in the plywood of the wall support structure and are secured tothe studs 14. The securing plates 8 can be accessed from the inside ofthe wall when they are to be removed. The hook adapters 7 can besecurely fastened to the top of the wall 10 using nails, screws, nuts,bolts and/or a combination thereof. The securing plates 8 can besecurely fasted to the stud inside the wall using nails, screws, nuts,bolts and/or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment of the bracket scaffold system of the presentinvention, a plurality of horizontal rails 4 have a proximal end and adistal end and are perpendicular to the vertical wall bars 1, with thehorizontal rails 4 proximal end being attachably connected to thevertical wall bars 1. In an alternative embodiment of the bracketscaffold system of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 2-4, aplurality of plates 13 are longitudinally parallel to the vertical wallbars 1 and perpendicular to the horizontal rails 4. The plates 13 areattachably connected to the vertical wall bars 1 with the proximal endof the horizontal rails 4 adjustably attachable to the plates 13. Asshown in FIG. 2-4, the horizontal rails 4 can be adjusted along theplates 13 using attachment holes drilled within the plates 13 or othersuitable adjustable attachment device on plates 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a plurality of connecting braces 5 are attachablyconnected at their proximal ends to the lower end of the vertical wallbars 1 and attachably connected at the distal end to the distal ends ofthe horizontal rails 4 with bolts or other suitable fasteners. Thevertical wall bars 1, horizontal rails 4 and connecting braces 5 form atriangular configuration. A plurality of horizontal braces 9 areperpendicular to and selectably connected to the vertical wall bars 1with bolts or other suitable fasteners. The horizontal braces 9 restagainst the outer surface of the wall in order to stabilize theplacement of the scaffold bracket.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a plurality of vertical railing posts 3 areadjustably attached at their lower ends to the horizontal rails 4. Asillustrated, the vertical railing post 3 may be carried on sleeves orother suitable means operable to be slidable and selectably secured tothe horizontal rails 4. One or more adjustable railing brackets 6 areselectably connected to the vertical railing posts 3 through the use ofbolts or other suitable fasteners.

The vertical wall bars 1, hook adapters 7, securing plates 8, horizontalrails 4 and connecting braces 5 can be substantially made of metallic,polymeric, wood and/or composite materials as well as combinationsthereof.

A plurality of adjustable railing brackets 6 on a plurality of verticalrailing posts 3 are used to support a plurality of parallel boards, asshown in further detail in FIGS. 2-4 so as to form a barrier around theedge of the roof proximate to the edge of thereof.

A scaffold system can be prepared for a wall of a building using thebracketed scaffold system as described above by hanging the plurality ofhook adapters 7 over the top of the wall 10 and attaching each of theplurality of securing plates to a stud inside the wall 10, shown indetail in FIG. 5.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference has been made to the preferred embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used todescribe these embodiments. However, this specific language intends nolimitation of the scope of the invention, and the invention should beconstrued to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to oneof ordinary skill in the art. The particular implementations shown anddescribed herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are notintended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. Forthe sake of brevity, conventional aspects of the method (and componentsof the individual operating components of the method) may not bedescribed in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectorsshown in the various figures presented are intended to representexemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplingsbetween the various elements. It should be noted that many alternativeor additional functional relationships, physical connections or logicalconnections might be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item orcomponent is essential to the practice of the invention unless theelement is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. Numerousmodifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilledin this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A scaffold bracket, comprising: a vertical wallbar having an upper end and a lower end; a hook adapter attachablyconnected to the upper end of the vertical wall bar, wherein the hookadapter is hangable over a top of a wall; a securing platelongitudinally parallel with and attachably connected to the lower endof the vertical wall bar, wherein the securing plate is attachable to astud inside the wall; a horizontal rail having a proximal end and adistal end and is perpendicular to the vertical wall bar, wherein theproximal end of the horizontal rail is attachably connected to thevertical wall bar; a connecting brace, having a proximal end and adistal end, wherein the proximal end of the connecting brace isattachably connected to the lower end of the vertical wall bar, andwherein the distal end of the connecting brace is attachably connectedto the distal end of the horizontal rail. a horizontal braceperpendicular to the vertical wall bar, wherein the horizontal brace isattachably connected to the vertical wall bar.
 2. The scaffold bracketof claim 1, further comprising a plate longitudinally parallel to thevertical wall bar and perpendicular to the horizontal rail, wherein theplate is attachably connected to the vertical wall bar and the proximalend of the horizontal rail is adjustably attachable to the plate.
 3. Thescaffold bracket of claim 1, further comprising a vertical railing posthaving an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of thevertical railing post is adjustably attachable to the horizontal rail.4. The scaffold bracket of claim 3, further comprising one or moreadjustable railing brackets, wherein the one or more adjustable railingbrackets are attachably connected to the vertical railing post.
 5. Thescaffold bracket of claim 1, wherein the vertical wall bar, hookadapter, securing plate, horizontal rail, and connecting brace aresubstantially made of materials selected from the group comprisingmetals, polymers, wood, composite or combinations thereof.
 6. Thescaffold bracket of claim 1, wherein the vertical wall bar hassubstantially flat surfaces.
 7. The scaffold bracket of claim 1, whereinthe hook adapter is securely fastened to the top of the wall using asecuring device selected from the group comprising nails, screws, bolts,nuts or combinations thereof.
 8. The scaffold bracket of claim 1,wherein the securing plate is securely fastened to a stud inside thewall using a securing device selected from the group comprising nails,screws, bolts, nuts or combinations thereof.
 9. A bracketed scaffoldsystem for securing a scaffold to a wall, comprising: a plurality ofvertical wall bars, each wall bar having an upper end and a lower end; aplurality of hook adapters, each hook adapter attachably connected tothe upper end of one of the plurality of vertical wall bars, whereineach hook adapter is hangable over a top of the wall; a plurality ofsecuring plates, each securing plate longitudinally parallel with andattachably connected to the lower end of one of the plurality ofvertical wall bars, wherein each securing plate is attachable to a studinside the wall; a plurality of horizontal rails, each horizontal railhaving a proximal end and a distal end and is perpendicular to one ofthe plurality of vertical wall bars, wherein the proximal end of eachone of the plurality of horizontal rails is attachably connected to oneof the plurality of vertical wall bars; and a plurality of connectingbraces, each connecting brace having a proximal end and a distal end,wherein the proximal end of each one of the plurality of connectingbraces is attachably connected to the lower end of one of the pluralityof vertical wall bars, and wherein the distal end of each one of theplurality of connecting braces is attachably connected to the distal endof one of the plurality of horizontal rails.
 10. The bracketed scaffoldsystem of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of horizontal braces,each horizontal brace perpendicular to one of the plurality of verticalwall bars, wherein each horizontal brace is attachably connected to oneof the plurality of vertical wall bars.
 11. The bracketed scaffoldsystem of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of vertical railingposts, each railing post having an upper end and a lower end, whereinthe lower end of each vertical railing post is adjustably attachable toone of the plurality of horizontal rails.
 12. The bracketed scaffoldsystem of claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of adjustablerailing brackets, wherein each adjustable railing bracket is attachablyconnected to one of the plurality of vertical railing posts a pluralityof parallel boards, each parallel board supported by one of theplurality of vertical railing posts.
 13. The bracketed scaffold systemof claim 9, wherein the vertical wall bars, hook adapters, securingplates, horizontal rails, and connecting braces are substantially madeof materials selected from the group comprising metals, polymers, wood,composite or combinations thereof.
 14. The bracketed scaffold system ofclaim 9, wherein the vertical wall bars have substantially flatsurfaces.
 15. The bracketed scaffold system of claim 9, wherein the hookadapters are securely fastened to the top of the wall using a securingdevice selected from the group comprising nails, screws, bolts, nuts orcombinations thereof.
 16. The bracketed scaffold system of claim 9,wherein the securing plates are securely fastened to a stud inside thewall using a securing device selected from the group comprising nails,screws, bolts, nuts or combinations thereof.
 17. A method of applying ascaffolding system for a wall of a building, comprising: providing abracketed scaffold system having: a plurality of vertical wall bars,each wall bar having an upper end and a lower end; a plurality of hookadapters, each hook adapter attachably connected to the upper end of oneof the plurality of vertical wall bars, wherein each hook adapter ishangable over a top of the wall; a plurality of securing plates, eachsecuring plate longitudinally parallel with and attachably connected tothe lower end of one of the plurality of vertical wall bars, whereineach securing plate is attachable to a stud inside the wall; a pluralityof horizontal rails, each horizontal rail having a proximal end and adistal end and is perpendicular to one of the plurality of vertical wallbars, wherein the proximal end of each one of the plurality ofhorizontal rails is attachably connected to one of the plurality ofvertical wall bars; and a plurality of connecting braces, eachconnecting brace having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein theproximal end of each one of the plurality of connecting braces isattachably connected to the lower end of one of the plurality ofvertical wall bars, and wherein the distal end of each one of theplurality of connecting braces is attachably connected to the distal endof one of the plurality of horizontal rails. hanging each of theplurality of hook adapters over the top of the wall; and attaching eachof the plurality of securing plates to a stud inside the wall.
 18. Themethod of preparing a scaffolding system for a wall of a building ofclaim 17, wherein the bracketed scaffold system further includes: aplurality of horizontal braces, each horizontal brace perpendicular toone of the plurality of vertical wall bars, wherein each horizontalbrace is attachably connected to one of the plurality of vertical wallbars; a plurality of vertical railing posts, each railing post having anupper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of each verticalrailing post is adjustably attachable to one of the plurality ofhorizontal rails; and a plurality of adjustable railing brackets,wherein each adjustable railing bracket is attachably connected to oneof the plurality of vertical railing posts. a plurality of parallelboards, each parallel board supported by one of the plurality ofvertical railing posts;
 19. The method of preparing a scaffolding systemfor a wall of a building of claim 17, wherein the vertical wall bars,hook adapters, securing plates, horizontal rails, and connecting bracesare substantially made of materials selected from the group comprisingmetals, polymers, wood, composite or combinations thereof.
 20. Themethod of preparing a scaffolding system for a wall of a building ofclaim 17, wherein the hook adapters are securely fastened to the top ofthe wall using a securing device selected from the group comprisingnails, screws, bolts, nuts or combinations thereof; and wherein thesecuring plates are securely fastened to a stud inside the wall using asecuring device selected from the group comprising nails, screws, bolts,nuts or combinations thereof.